LEED ^TM Certification

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. It was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in a process that began in 1995 and employed all segments of the building industry. The LEED ™ system rating continues to evolve and has been instrumental in defining the standards by which green building and design are judged.

LEED™ was created to:

• define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement;
• promote integrated, whole-building design practices;
  recognize environmental leadership in the building industry;
  stimulate green competition;
• raise consumer awareness of green building benefits;
  transform the building market.
  
  

There are LEED standards available for new construction, major building renovations, building operations, and commercial interiors projects. The Green Building Rating System allots points for various categories of concern; four levels of certification are based on the number of points earned in these areas of concern. The four levels are LEED certified, Silver Level, Gold Level, and Platinum Level. The categories of concern are: 

• indoor air quality 
• materials and resources; sustainable sites
• water efficiency; and energy and atmosphere
• sediment and erosion control
• minimum energy performance
• fundamental commissioning 
• CFC reduction in HVAC equipment 
• storage of recyclables 
• minimum indoor air quality performance
• elimination of tobacco smoke

For more information, visit the U.S. Green Building web site at:

http://www.usgbc.org/AboutUs/mission_facts.asp